adj. (common).—This word, similar in type to ‘blessed,’ ‘blamed,’ and other words of the kind is, as used by the lower classes, a euphemism for ‘bloody,’ ‘damned,’ etc.; but it is also frequently a mere meaningless intensitive. [Originating as a modern colloquialism (see quot. 1726) on the Californian coast, chief instrument of its acclimatization in England was Mr. Alfred G. Vance, the comic singer, well-known in connection with ‘Jolly dogs,’ and other extensively popular music-hall songs.]
1726. REV. J. GLANVIL, Sadducismus triumphatus. Under the head of ‘The Demon of Tedworth’ (1661). Glanvil makes mention that on one occasion the spirit came into a room panting like a dog, and company coming up, the room was presently filled with a BLOOMING noisome smell.
18[?]. COLONEL JOHN HAY, Ballad, ‘The Mystery of Gilgal.’
| He went for his ’leven-inch bowie-knife:— | |
| ‘I tries to foller a Christian life, | |
| But I ’ll drap a slice of liver or two, | |
| My BLOOMIN’ shrub, with you.’ |
1881. G. R. SIMS, Dagonet Ballads (‘Told to the Missionary’). I feels like a BLOOMIN’ babby—I gets so infernal weak.
1877. W. H. THOMSON, Five Years’ Penal Servitude, iii. 222. Afore that I worked in the galleries, a making the casemates for the guns, and BLOOMING hard work it was.
1880. GREENWOOD, At Flyfaker’s Hotel, in Odd People in Odd Places, 59. ‘Who’s got any music?’ presently exclaimed the dirty scoundrel who had been mending the boxing-glove;’ ‘—— me, let’s have a BLOOMIN’ lark! Let’s have a tune and a song. Who’s got any BLOOMIN’ music?’
1882. Punch’s Almanac, 4. THE STEAM LAUNCH IN VENICE (‘Sic Transit Gloria Mundi’)—’Andsome ’Arriet: ‘Ow my! If it ’yn’t that BLOOMIN’ old Temple Bar, as they did aw’y with out o’ Fleet Street!’ Mr. Belleville (referring to guide book): ‘Now it ’yn’t. It’s the fymous Bridge o’ Sighs, as Byron went and stood on; ’im as wrote ‘Our Boys,’ yer know!’ ’Andsome ’Arriet: ‘Well, I never!’
1884. W. C. RUSSELL, Jack’s Courtship, xxxviii. ‘And if there’s fire, there ought to be nothen to stop us from cooking a BLOOMIN’ old goat.’
1889. Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday, July 6. ‘Injured Innocence’: Indignant Son of Labour. Well, I’m blowed! If that ’ere BLOOMIN’ swell ain’t a-himitatin’ me!
1899. OUIDA, The Massarenes, 15. Sweet little babies! Precious little poppets! Damm ’em, the whole BLOOMING lot.
